Washing machine formula control



Aug 31, 1943.. 3 A. F. HANNEY 2,

WASHING MACHINE FORMULA CONTROL Filed Aug. .2, 1940 17 SheetS Sheet 1 INVENTOR BY ANGUS F. HANNEY 1943? A F. HANNEY 2,328,073-

WASHING MACHINEFORMULA CONTROL Filed Aug. 2, 1940 17 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG-4 d INVENTOR B meus r. HANNEY V Y FlG.-4c

ATTORNEYS Aug. 31, 1943. A. F. HANNEY WASHING MACHINE FORMULA CONTROL 17 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 2, 1940 Fla-4 INVENTOR ANGUS E HANNEY I Aug. 31, 1943. A. F. HANNEY WASHING MACHINE FCJRMULA CQNTRQ Filed Aug. 2. 1940 17 Sheets-Sheet 5 a W m (h m M F E S w M N A m To:

ATTORN Y5 Aug. 31, 1943. I 2,328,073

WASHING MACHINE FORMULA CONTROL Fil ed Aug. 2, 1940 17 Sheets-Sheet 8 g 359 as INVENTOR ANGUS E HANNEY ATTORNEY:

FIG-l2 1943- A F. HANNEY WASHING MACHINE FORMULA CONTRQL Filed Aug; 2, 1940 17 Sheets-Sheet 1O FIG-l7 use I36 134 FIG.- l6

INVENTOR ANGUS F. HANNEY $4 M ATTQRNEW Aug. 31,1943. 2 A, F, HANNE-Y WASHING MACHINE FORMULA CONTROL Filed Aug. 2 1940 17 Sheets-Sheet 11 INVENTOR ANGUS F. HANNEY W M710 ATTORNEYS FIG-22 Aug. 31, 1943. A. F. HANNEY WASHING MACHINE FORMULA CONTROL FiledAug. 2, 1940 17 sheets-sheet 12 FIG-2Z6.

INVENTOR ANGUS F. HANNEY BY ATTO RNEYS Aug. 31, 1943. I "A. F. HANNEY 2,328,073

WASHING MACHINE FORMULA CONTROL Filed Aug. 2, 1940 17 Sheets-Sheet l3 INVENTOR ANGUS F. HANNEY ATTORNEYS I FIG -23 Aug. 31, 1943. A. F HANNEY 2,323,073

WASHING MACHINE FORMULA CONTROL Filed Aug. 2, 1940 17 Sheets-Sheet 14 FIG-24 Y INVENTQOR ANGUS F. HANNEY BY ATTORNEYS FIG-26 1943- A. F. HANNEY 2,328,073

WASHING MACHINE FORMULA CONTROL Filed Aug. 2, 1940 i 17 Sheets-Sheet 15 FIG-25 532533 534 INVENTOR 1 BY ANGUS F. HANNEY ATTORN EYS Aug. 31, 1943. A. F. HANNEY 2,328,073

WASHING MACHINE FORMULA CONTROL Filed Aug. 2, 1940 17 Sheets-Sheet 16 g. I 54u7 /1 I FIG-27 v INVENTOR 563 ANGUS F. HANNEY B W/l/J/l/l/l/I/l/l/Ax FIG-30 flaw/7%? ATTORN EYS Aug. 31, 1943.

A. F.- HANNEY WASHING MACHINE FORMULA CONTROL I66 Isl Filed Aug. 2, 1940 l7 Sheets-Sheet 1'7 IINVENTOR Y ANGUS F. HANNEY B ATTORNEYS Parmesan 31, 1943 wAsmNG MACHINE FORMULA couraor.

Angus F. Hanney, Norwood,-Ohio, assignor to p The American Laundry Machinery Company, I I Norwood, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application August 2, 1940, Serial No. 349,880 3 Claims. (01. ssz) This invention relates to improvements in laundry machinery. Certain features of the in-' vention are particularly applicable to the automatic control of the various operations of the washing formula as practiced with power'driven 5 washing machines. v

Although the invention is hereinafter described, in connection with apparatus for eflecting said formula control it will be apparent that, with certain slight mbdiflcations' such as would instantly occur to those skilled in the art, it could be applied to'other classes of laundry machinery, for instance to power driven drying apparatus. It may be further notedhere that since the par-' ticular structural features of the invention reside, basically, in the controller mechanism and operation, the washing machine which, in its operation, responds to said control is illustrated and described only to-an extent suflicient to comprehend the invention as claimed. Any

I washing machine capable of. being started,

s Opped, and designed to continuously or intermittently agitate a charge of material in a liquid bath may have the sequence, inception, and

duration of its operations determined by means ent invention, herein disclosedand claimed, rep- 3' resents a formula control presenting certain novel and useful structural features for automatically controlling, optionally, some or all of r the operations of the desired formula.

One object of the invention is to provide. an

automatic formula control mechanism including means whereby said mechanism may be autowhereby'the level of liquid in the washing mamatically deenergized'and the controller stopped at certain preselected periods during continuous operation of the washing; machine, to permi 40 periodic inspection of the load] A further object is to'provide means whereby varying but predetermined-j amounts of washing supplies may be automatically injected into a washing machine at preselected periods' in' a 48 washing cycle, the formula controller being tem- DOrarily deenerg'ized'during the'period when said supplies are being injected. v

A further'obiect is to provide automatic means chine may be controlled to various but predetermined levels at preselected periods in a washing cycle, the means for permitting entry of liquid to the washing machine being deenergized so as to be inoperable untihthe level selector is v maybe. carried on controlled during etc.

set, and said water entry means being again deenergizedthrough the instrumentality of said level control means as soon as the liquid reaches the desired level.

A further object is to provide automatic means whereby the liquid in the washing machine may be heated to any. desired operating temperature at any predetermined period in the washing cycle, the formula control means being deenergized during the period when the liquid is coming up to temperature, but said formula control means being again energized as soon as the desired temperature is reached.

A further object of the invention is to provide automatic means of the nature just described,- for'a formula control for any ordinary washing machine of the type hereinabove mentioned of such a nature that anypredetermined formula may be put into operation by even an inexperien'ced operator, merely'by a rapidsubstitution of an element in the control mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby certain related operations in the washing formula may be automatically performed, while certain other operations may be under the manual control of the operator.

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby certain operations of the washing cycle proceed toa conclusion under automatic control after the specific series of operations are manually set in operation. r

- Further objects and advantages are in part obvious and in part will appear more in detail hereinafter.

The apparatus for, and the .operation of, my control system will first be described in connection with the execution of a formula for a commercial washing machine. This involves the control of the following essential operations.

1. The admission of hot and/or cold water to the tub at suitable times 2. The choice of a suitable liquid level in thetub, which levelmay be changed at will during the washing cycle A 3. The injection, at suitable times, of washing supplies such assoap, soda, 'bleach, sour, bluing',

'4. The control of the temperature of the wash ing fluid at'diflferent values during preselected periods in the washing cycle. I

5. Discharge of the washing fluid at suitable times, either tc'make way for a new charge, or;

at the finish of the washing operation.

These operations, as. will hereinafter appeanu control member.

tinuous operation of the washing machine. The

said'washing machine may be of any standard type. It may comprisean outer liquid retain.-

ing housing or curb. within which a perforated container is agitated or rotated. It may be the newer tubless type washing machine comprising an imperf'orate rotatable container into which means are included in the scope of the appended claims.

In conjunction with my novel apparatus now to be described I use, as one element, a jacquard Inthe preferred embodiment shown herein this consists of a member, carryingsuitable perforations, which is intermittently advanced by suitable motive means, through a control-zone wherein a series of plungers are periodically energized, and at each such energlzation period one or more of the plungers may register with a corresponding perforation in the jacquard element and, passing therethrough, set in operation further suitable motive means controlling various operations of the washing-machine. I prefer to use a perforated, rotating disk which is periodically rotated through a fractional increment of a complete revolution but to those skilled in the art it is obvious that the jacquard system of control may be applied through the instrumentality of a revolving drum, or an endless caterpillar belt, or indeed in other ways. The jacquard control itseli'is heretofore known and is not claimed herein save as one element of my novel control apparatus. I

Further, I have provided means for suspending the operation of my controller from time to time for various purposes. 7 tomatic controls as'were available operated continuously to the completion of the washing operation unless manually stopped at certain times. I have provided means for stopping the controller at one or more preselected intermediate periods in the washing cycle, determined by the advance of a control disk perforation into re istry with a suitable plunger, and which means summon'an operator by visible and/or audible signal to inspect the condition of the charge.

I have provided further means which auto matically suspend the operation or the controller while water or water and supplies are bein admitted to the washer. Briefly, since later more fully described, the energization of suitable means to open one or more water inlet valves sets in operation a dependent motive means which cuts off the power to the controller motor while the 'water valves remain open, and which means again starts'the controller motor when sumcient water has been admitted to the tub.

I have provided further means for automatically suspending the operation of the controller while the washing fluid is being brought up to a predetermined temperature, and for starting the controller when said temperature is reached. Again briefly, this means comprises a mechanical.

Heretofore such aulinkage operated by a registering plungen as' above noted, which simultaneously energizes the Y heating means, and cuts off the current to the When the washing fluid controller motor. reaches the proper. preselected temperature a thermostatic switch closes the motor circuit and starts the controller, and the heating means is thereupon cutoff.

I have provided further means, operated by plungers when registered with suitable apertures in the jacquard element, for presetting any one of a plurality of members which determine a desired liquid level in the washing machine. As will later be described, this operation is a necessary condition precedent to the operation of the Water admission means since the operative means for the water valves is not energized. until the level setting operation is performed. It is consequently impossible to admit water to the washer without first setting the water level device.

I have provided further means, operated by suitable float apparatus, as will be more fully described hereinafter, for deenergizing said water valves, and returning said level presetting member to an inoperative position as soon as the proper liquid level is reached.

I have provided further means, operated by a plunger when registered with a suitable aperture in the jacquard element, for opening a dump valve and discharging all liquid in the washer at predetermined intervals in the washing cycle. Thereafter water is again admitted as hereinafter mentioned.

All the above described operations may obviously be repeated or varied at will as predetermined by the' entry of certain perforated portions of the jacquard element into the control zone, as I have termed the position where available perforations register with plungers.- The plungers in my preferred embodiment are arranged in juxtaposition in a fixed plane, and move as a unit vertically downward thereon at periodic intervals. The construction is such that the plungers which do not register with a perforation remain, for the time being, inoperative.

Finally, when the jacquard element advances to a position such that a suitable plunger registers with the proper perforation, means are provided for disconnecting the controller drive mechanism from the jacquard element, stopping the controller motor, and by audible and/or visible signals informing the operator that the Washing operation is completed. This does not necessarily stop the operation of the washing machine, although if desired means may be provided for simultaneously cutting the power of the operative means for the machine.

In the completely automatic form of my formula controller all the above described operations are automatically instituted, after the controller is manually started, and, with the single exception of a further manual start after the intermediate inspection stop or stops, the whole cycle or succession of cycles proceeds automatically to completion, at which point the control is terminated, as described.

It is obvious, however, that certain advantageous features of my invention may be adopted without taking advantage of the complete automatic operation. I shall describe, for instance, as an alternative, apparatus whereby certain of the above described operations of the complete formula may be automatically controlled in accordinthis view.

.- ready mentioned. Obvious alternatives and modiflcations such as would naturally occur to those skilled in the-art are, of course, comprehended within the scope of my claims.

The dra ninas Fig. 1 is a plan view of a washing machine showing the several units making up the formula control and operating mechanism.

2 is an elevation looking at the right end "of Fig. 1..

Fig. 2a is a front elevation of the cabinet supporting the controller unit A and the supplies injection apparatus D.

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 3-: of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the controller 'marked I Unit A in Fig. 1, showing this apparatus with the cover removed and with the position of the formula disc indicated by dash-dot lines.

Fig. 4a is a small detail plan view of the for- --mula disc shown in Fig. 5 and indicated in Fig.

4 by dash-dot lines.

Fig. 4b is a sectional view taken on the line lb-lb of Fig. 4.

Fig. 4c isa sectional view taken on the line 4c4c of Fig. 4.

Fig. 4d is an elevation of a safety switch device to guard against inadvertent failure to insert the formula disc.

Fig. 5 is an egevation of the diaphragm and in Fig. 20,- parts being broken away and other partsshowninsection.

ms. 22 is a wiring diagram-of theelectri cal' circuits.

Fig. 22a is apictorial representation in perspective, of the mercury switch assembly and associated operating mechanism. a Fig. 23 is a diagrammatic view of the fluid circuits for the apparatus.

Fig. 24 is a plan view of a washing machine 1 showing the several'units making up the control apparatus for a modified form of control herein after referred'to as the pushbutton automatic type. a

Fig. is a front elevation of the control pan for the said modified form of'control.

Fig. 26 is a plan view of Fig. 25 with the cover removed and the front panel being shown in section on the line 26-26 of Fig. 25.

Fig. 27 is an elevation looking at the right side 7 g of Fig. 25, the side cover being removed toexpose the mechanism, and other parts of the mechanism being shown in section.

Fig. 28 is a sectional'view taken on the line 20-21: of Fig. 27.

Fig. 29 is a sectional view taken on the'line 29-29 of Fig. 26.

air valve assemb y looking in the direction of the arrows designated 55 of Fig. 4, parts thereof being broken away and other parts being shown in section. The formula disc is shown 'in place Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 86 of Fig. 5

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8 -8 01' Fig. 4.

Fig. 9 is a sectional'view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 4. Fig. 10 is a view like Fig. Qshowing the parts in operated position. I Fig.- 11 is a sectional view taken on the line Il-ll of Fig. 4.

Fig. 30 is a sectional view taken on the line 30-30 of Fig. 26.

Fig. 31 is a diagrammatic view of the electricaland fluid circuits for the modified form of control.

Figs. 1 and 2 show the general location of the I various units comprising the operatingmechanism for the washing formula, which'mechanism is responsive to my formula controller. They are shown in association with a washing machine of conventional design provided with a standard drive including a motor ll and brake I! connected in the usualcontrol circuits manipulated by push button switches 43 for running, inching,

and stopping. In Figs. 1- and 2 A- designates the formula control unit; B is the valve mechanism which controls the supply of hot and/or cold water; C is the 'water level control mechanism; D is they apparatus which serves to inject supplies; E

Fig. 12 is a plan view of Fig. 11 with the upper portion removed.

T Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken on the line l3-l3 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a fragmental sectional view taken on the line I4-l4 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 15 is a sectional view l5-|5 of Fig. 1.

a Fig. 16 is a rear elevation of units A and D, looking in the direction of line ll6 of Fig. 2.

4 Fig. 1'7 is an enlarged fragmental sectionaldetail of apparatus shown in Fig. 16.

-Fi'g. 18 is a sectional detail taken on the line ll-l8 of Fig.16; Fig. 19 is a sectional view of the water level apparatus unit C. looking at the front of the ma.- chine.

Fig. 201s a fragmental plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 19.

,Fig.-'21 is an elevation of the apparatus shown taken on the line designates the temperature control mechanism, and F indicates the'dump valve and operating mechanism for discharging the liquid from the machine.

These various units'will now be more fully de-.

scribed both 'individuallmand insofar as they affect, or are affected by, each other. I a

The formula control wait The inception of the various operations of the formula control is actuated through the use of a jacquard control element. In the present embodiment I prefer to use a circular perforated disc which is rotated by increments at equal chronological intervals into a succession of registering positions, so termed by reason of the fact that as the disc pauses in each successive position a plurality of plu'ngers are actuated by an air diaphragm and certain'plungers, if permitted by a registering aperture in the disc, actuate air,

valves or mechanical linkages immediately beneath said disc so as to institute further activity in the various units above identified under the letters A to F. The formula controller unit,

hereinafter termed the controller, has the capacity, through the instrumentality of mechanical linkage operated by some of the said plung. ers, to suspend its own periodic advance and indicate to an operator by suitable signals that it is 

